"What are these?" Alpha asked as Morganite dumped a bunch of documents on her worktable and sat down in front of her, smilling.
"Just some documents for you to look over."
Alpha surveyed the pile of documents in front of her. It was far bigger than she had expected. This planet was closer to terkas true empire, and as a result of that was better supplied and had better fortifications and equipment than the weak enclaves they were fighting before. That was true. But still, she didn't expect nearly a dozen forms.
And she thought that reading written forms instead of discussing ideas would save her time.
She took the first form, the shortest one, and flipped it open. It was a simple request from Beta to transfer Citrine Facet-G8R1 Cut-3D from one of the support battalion into Betas retinue. The stated reason was that Beta wanted to see if quartz soldiers could be used in combat in the same manner as obsidians. Alpha knew that some other reason must have been present, as before Beta didn't want to have any retinue, and took one only after huge amounts of pressure from both Alpha and Delta.
She suspected what might have been the reason, but it was none of her business, so she simply wrote "accepted" in the empty square located in the bottom of the last page, closed the form and put it next to the pile.
She then took the second one, which was clearly the largest. Alpha opened the first page. It was from Star and Omega, of course it would be. Alpha started looking through the file. It included numerous blueprints of weapons, machines and other equipment, with descriptions for each one, including positive and negative qualities of each and possible tactics to counter such weapons. The form asked for implementation of such weaponry or tactics against such weaponry. She closed the document and gave it to Morganite, who too started flipping through it.
"I'll see what I can do." Said the orange gem.
Morganite stood up, and left the workroom, with the form in her hands.
Alpha looked at the documents that were on her table, sighed, and returned to work.
She took the next form, and flipped it open. It was from Delta. The form stated that during her assault on the satellite of the planet she had encountered huge amounts of armed orbital craft, spaceship bombardment and even flying troops. And so asked for integration of similar support for her own forces.
This request was quite a problem, as the Vulkan crusade was so lacking in nephrites, that most of their ships were already piloted by technicians. Not to mention the fact that gem armies didn't even use orbital support craft.
Alpha turned to her console and started looking through the list of gem types that were present in the crusading force. She looked through the list several times, but none of them had met the qualifications.
She looked at the request again, and got an idea.
She turned on her communicator and sent a message to the team of emeralds responsible for supervision of project "adaptation" requesting for recordings. She needed confirmation.
Beta opened the door to her quarters and saw a grey pearl. The pearl started performing the diamond salute, but stopped herself midway, remembering that it was unnecessary. Instead she moved her hand to her left thigh on which her gem was located. It started glowing and a folder appeared from it. The pearl took the folder and silently handed it to the prime obsidian in front of her. Beta took it from the pearl and thanked her. The grey gem nodded, turned around and walked away.
Beta closed the door, and walked to her worktable, one of few objects located in her quarters. She put the folder next to her prime bracelet. She took the bracelet into her hand. She could feel it's weight in her hand. She couldn't pinpoint the last time she wore it.
None of them, except for Omega, wore their bracelets. The reason was a simple one. The bracelets were forged to be worn by a prime obsidian in their true forms. Forms, which while we're exceptional in combat, were simply too massive to be functional in cycle to cycle life. That's why the tree primes that were left chose to use smaller forms.
Deltas choice was the most radical. She chose a lithe and petite frame, more fit for an aristocrat than a general, which clashed with the massive gem located in her shoulder. She chose a height of a pearl, a build in between of an aquamarine and a lapis lazuli, and facial features more similar to the later, though her features were quite sharper. She also wore longer hair than a typical lazuli gem, it reaching her shoulders.
Alpha, being quite a practical gem, had chosen a form of the gems that were engineered to work in office environments, in which the leader of the Vulkan crusade was trapped. Her form was a strange combination of an emerald, morganite and a pearl. But she still kept some features of her original form. She was almost as tall as a quartz soldier, but not even nearly as muscular, though one could see musculature in her form. Her facial features were also copied from a technician, even her hair bore a similar style.
Beta didn't bother to create such an elaborate form, she choose something which resembled her original form, but still fulfilled the reasons why a smaller form was needed at all. She simply choose a form that was most common and universal In the gem empire. The form of a simple quartz soldier. It kept all of her favorites features after all, the musculature, the facial features, the long mane of hair. And though it was merely a shadow compared to her original form, she quite enjoyed it.
She returned from her thoughts and put the bracelet back on the table. She sat down and opened the folder. It was just the form she had submitted. Beta started flipping through pages of paperwork. As the form was short she quickly reached the last page. When she saw what was written on it she quickly jumped up, grabbed the folder and ran out of her quarters.
Blue adjusted her position before returning her attention back to a book titled "Of freedom and slavery". It was a truly fascinating literary piece of the terka species. Blue couldn't imagine how such short-lived creatures could reach such enlightenment. The numerous texts gathered in the book explained different views and ideas of numerous philosphers on various subjects, but mostly freedom.
Many of these ideas were completely alien to Blue, and many more were just strange. But some resonated very strongly.
This short tome, with several others was truly invaluable to Blue, they helped her complete her change in her mind, just as she changed in her function. They helped her prepare for what was inevitable. Which while didn't happen these last cycles, would still happen in the nearest future. They helped her break her weak former shell and reforge herself. Reforge herself into a weapon, which would annihilate all opponents.
She flipped a page when there was a knock on the door. She stood up and walked to the door, moving past a massive mirror built into the wall.
A grey pearl stood in the corridor, clearly confused by who had responded.
"I am very sorry to interrupt you Ma'am. There must have been a mistake. In the database these are designated as quarters of Delta Prime obsidian."
"They are."
"Not to insult you Ma'am, but if I might ask. What does a lapis lazuli gem such as you do in quarters of a general?"
"The same you do in your masters quarters"
The grey pearl's cheeks became of dark grey colour as she lowered her head and muttered.
"Oh my…"
Blue turned her head to hide her now dark blue cheeks. She quickly calmed herself and turned back towards the pearl.
"Did you need something?" The blue gem asked, trying to change the course of conversation.
"Oh… Oh yes" The pearl moved her hands toward her gem and drew a folder out of it. She then promptly gave it to Blue and quickly left.
Blue closed the door and quickly flipped the folder open.
When she saw what was written I the last page, a smile adorned her face.
End notes
I apologize, that this one took so long. Some problems had arrisen which prevented me from writing. I hope this is a one-time thing.
Also I decided that this Lapis will have two nicknames. The one used in this chapter - Blue was submitted as an idea by Missingno 50, why is it so simplistic will be seen in later chapters. The second nickname - Lappy submitted by Scraps the Fool.
Have a nice day!